We usually focus and give our attention to illnesses and diseases that either cause deaths or prolonged suffering. What about those that just cause change in a person’s appearance. Diseases such as Vitiligo for instance, cause the loss of skin colour and it usually occurs in patches. These patches may grow as time goes and even the scalp, hair and the inside of the mouth can be affected by this form of discolouration.
We all know that our melanin determines our skin colour but what most people don’t know is that melanin affects hair colour as well. In a person with vitiligo, the cells that produce melanin either stop functioning properly or die completely. This disease is mostly visible in people who have darker skin but it can occur in all skin types and it is neither life threatening or contagious, as some people have assumed it is. To many people who have lived with vitiligo it can cause issues especially if these discoloured patches are in visible places like the face, neck and hands. There is a way to treat vitiligo but doctors have confirmed that these treatments cannot prevent the possibility of other places in the body experiencing a loss of skin colour or even reoccurrence in the treated areas.
Symptoms
Most people who have vitiligo notice early appearances of the disease as small patches of colour loss on their hands, face and some around gentile areas. Some people notice that their hair, eyelashes, eyebrows and beards prematurely turn white. Another tell tail sign of vitiligo is the loss of colour in the mucous membranes; the inside of the mouth and the nose. Vitiligo can appear at any age but it is most likely to appear before the age of 30. Different types of vitiligo can affect a person differently.
Types
Universal Vitiligo
With this type of vitiligo the discoloured patches will appear in a symmetrical pattern or simply on corresponding body parts.
Generalized Vitiligo
With this type of vitiligo the discoloured patches will appear in a symmetrical pattern or simply on corresponding body parts.
Segmental Vitiligo
This occurs in young people for a time period of a year to two years then afterwards stops. This type of vitiligo will appear on one side of the body.
Localized or Focal Vitiligo
This type appears either on one part of the body or a few areas of the body.
Acrofacial Vitiligo
With this type of vitiligo the most affected part of the body will be the skin on the face or hands, sometimes other body opening around the face and hands such as the eyes, nose and ears.
There have been cases where either the patches will stop progressing without the help of treatment or the skin gets its colour back but it is almost impossible to predict how the effect of the disease will occur. There have been suggestions that the reason why the pigment cells die or fail might be because of disorder of the immune system, hereditary factors or trigger events such as sunburns or skin traumas caused by coming into contact with chemicals.
People with vitiligo have been said to additionally have social or psychological distress, sunburn, eye problems and hearing loss.
Many models, actors and influencers such as Winnie Harlow and Brighton Ngoma are open about their vitiligo and encourage people to be confident in their skin no matter the issue. There are some people however who treat their conditions differently by either hiding them or choosing to remain private about it and it is understandable.
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